If you love art (and I know you do), get thee to a museum and show your love this Valentine’s Day! Institutions across the U.S. are putting their hearts on their sleeves (and floors and walls), inviting visitors to send love to their favorite works of art.
For example, the Denver Art Museum wants you to leave valentines for your favorite pieces. Drop a paper heart on the floor near those you love, snap a photo, and tag it with #denverartmuseum and #heartsforart to declare your devotion.
They’ve also got little paper heart cutouts you can use to frame your best shots:
"Release Your Plans" Daniel Sprick #HeartsForArt @DenverArtMuseum pic.twitter.com/LeFIOhD9Mq
— i hope senpai notices me (@infinitenat) February 11, 2017
The Oakland Museum of California provides step-by-step instructions for the lovelorn:
Step 1: Pick up a paper heart from the basket in OMCA’s Gallery of California Art. Hold it close and feel the love.
Step 2: Get giddy. Proclaim your love and make it official by placing your heart on the floor in front of a work of art you love.
Step 3: Snap a photo of your heart placed next to your artwork crush, and post it to your favorite social media site, using the hashtags #IHeartOMCA and #HeartsForArt. Don’t forget to give OMCA some love, and tag Oakland Museum of California (@oaklandmuseumca) in the post.
The OMCA is also tracking which pieces get the most love!
Top voted artwork in the #OMCAArt gallery last night: Notes From Camp by Torreya Cummings. Keep sharing the love with #HeartsForArt today 💗🎨 pic.twitter.com/zAkMeaWq1r
— Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) (@oaklandmuseumca) February 11, 2017
The St. Louis Arts Museum has paper hearts at the information desk for easy lovin’.
The Cranbrook Art Museum held a whole Hearts for Art Family Day today! They’re still sharing the love all weekend through Valentine’s Day, too.
Do you like illuminated manuscripts? I like illuminated manuscripts.
We asked curator Lynley Herbert to show her fav. manuscripts for #HeartsforArt. Pick #3 Clothilde Missal, online soon! pic.twitter.com/m2uxiImP45
— The Walters Art Museum (@walters_museum) February 9, 2017
Are you still lookin’ for love in different places? Visit your local museum and ask! Even if #HeartsForArt isn’t on their radar for this year, maybe they’ll participate in 2018. Or you may be pleasantly surprised to find your love reciprocated!
Other participating museums include: Columbus Museum of Art, Philbrook Museum of Art, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Dallas Museum of Art, Crystal Bridges Museum of Art, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Parrish Art Museum, Ann Arbor Art Center, Baltimore Museum of Art, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, and the National Gallery of Art.
